Person Page - 102

     Walter I Giffard , Seigneur of Longueville was born circa 1005 at Longueville-sur-Scie, Seine-Inferieure, Normandy, France. He was the son of Osbern I de Bolbec , Seigneur of Longueville and Avelina (Wevia) 'not' de Crepon. Walter I Giffard , Seigneur of Longueville married Agnes Flatel, daughter of Gerard Flatel, circa 1025 at France. Walter I Giffard , Seigneur of Longueville died in 1084.³
     He Walter Giffard, d. 1084, Lord of Longueville, a companion of William I atBattle of Hastings, 1066, son of Osbern de Bolbec, seigneur ofLongueville-sur-Scie in Normandy 1028-1035, and Duvelina, sister of theDuchess Gunnora; m. Agnes, daughter of Girard Flatel. [Ancestral Roots]

Note: Turton has Walter as son of Osbern II de Bolbec, son of Osbern byAvelina de Crepon (making his grandmother & grandfather more or less thesame as Ancestral Roots has as his father & mother). I have chosen tostay with Ancestral Roots.

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The following post-em, by Mike Lysell, mlysell AT comcast.net, also hasWalter as grandson of Osbern I, but with another Walter (instead ofTurton's Osbern II) in between as father (I am still sticking with AR):

Jim - Carl Boyer, in 'Medievil English Ancestors of Certian Americans',page 104, shows Walter, the son of Osbern I, as born in 978 with abrother Godfrey and a son Walter who was born in 1010. According toBoyer, Walter married Emmengard Flaitel and had the following children:
i. Osbert (Osbern, Bolebec), d. by 1095
ii. Rohese, b. say 1045
iii. William
iv. Walter, 1st Earl of Buckingham; b. say 1051; d. Jul 15, 1102;m. Agnes de Ribemont
v. Berenger, possible son, b. say 1054

Boyer cites Vernon M. Noor’s 'Some Early English Pedigrees' as a source.

Mike Lysell

Note: I have seen discussions about this in SGM, and Todd Farmerie saysthat the dates for Walter are 'long' and numerous authors have suggestedthat the original sources had compressed two Walter de Giffards into oneperson, but that there is no proof one way or the other.

     Agnes Flatel was born circa 1014 at Evreux, Eure, Normandy, France. She was the daughter of Gerard Flatel. Agnes Flatel married Walter I Giffard , Seigneur of Longueville, son of Osbern I de Bolbec , Seigneur of Longueville and Avelina (Wevia) 'not' de Crepon, circa 1025 at France.

     Godfrey FitzRichard of Brionne , Comte d'Eu was born circa 953 at Brionne, Eure, Normandy, France. He was the son of Richard I 'The Fearless' Duke of Normandy and (?) Concubine(s). Godfrey FitzRichard of Brionne , Comte d'Eu died in 1015.⁴
     He Gilbert, Count of Brionne, who was son of Godfrey, Count of Brionne,illegitimate son of Richard I, the Fearless, Duke of Normandy. [MagnaCharta Sureties, line 157-1]

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Turton has Geoffrey (Godfrey Comte d'Eu as a legitimate son of Richard &Gunnora, which confused me for awhile and I had him as a 2nd person(father of Adele only). However I believe Turton is wrong, and Godfreywas an illegitimate son (in fact the eldest illegitimate son).

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The following is the first part of a post to SGM, 29 Aug 1996, by DaveUtzinger:

From: Dave Utzinger (UTZ AT AOL.COM)
Subject: CLARE FAMILY
Newsgroups: soc.genealogy.medieval
Date: 1996/08/29

From 'A Baronial Family in Medieval England: The Clares, 1217-1314', byMichael Altschul, Baltimore, The Johns Hopkins press, 1965.

The Clares came to England with the Conqueror. Like many other greatfamilies settled in England after the Conquest, they were related to thedukes of Normandy and had established themselves as important members ofthe Norman feudal aristocracy in the late tenth and early eleventhcenturies.

The origin of the family can be traced to Godfrey, eldest of theillegitimate children of Duke Richard I (the Fearless), the Conqueror'sgreat-grandfather. While the Duke granted Godfrey Brionne, he did notmake him a count. Godfrey's comital title derives from the grant of thecounty of Eu made to him after 996 by his half-brother, Duke Richard II.After Godfrey's death, Eu was given to William, another of Duke RichardI's bastard sons, and Gilbert, Godfrey's son, was left with only thelordship of Brionne. However, under Duke Robert I, father of William theConqueror, Gilbert assumed the title of count of Brionne while notrelinquishing his claim to Eu. When Count William of Eu died shortlybefore 1040, Gilbert assumed the land and title, but he was assassinatedin 1040 and his young sons, Richard and Baldwin, were forced to fleeNormandy, finding safety at the court of Baldwin V, count of Flanders.When William the Conqueror married Count Baldwin's daughter, he restoredGilbert's sons to Normandy, although he did not invest them with eitherBrionne or Eu or a comital title. William granted the lordships ofBienfaite and Orbec to Richard fitz Gilbert, and Le Sap and Meules toBaldwin. While Gilbert's descendants later pressed a claim for Brionne,it was never restored.

     Gerard Flatel was born circa 985 at Evreux, Eure, Normandy, France.

     Richard I Talbot , of Battlesden, Sir was born circa 1050 at Battlesden, Bedfordshire, England. He was the son of William Talbot , of Battlesden and Basita Flaitel.

     William Talbot , of Battlesden was born circa 1030 at Battlesden, Bedfordshire, England. He was the son of Lesire Talbot , of Battlesden.

     Lesire Talbot , of Battlesden was born circa 980 at Battlesden, Bedfordshire, England.

     Basita Flaitel was born circa 1030 at Evreux, Eure, Normandy, France. She was the daughter of Gerard Flatel.

     Amaury II Seigneur de Montfort died AFT 4 FEB 1052/53.^1,2,4 He was born circa 1000 at Montfort-l'Amaury, Yvelines, Ile-de-France, France.² He was the son of Guillaume Comte de Montfort and Miss de Nogent. Amaury II Seigneur de Montfort married Bertrade (Berteis) de Gometz, daughter of Guillaume de Gometz , de Bures, in 1028 at Ile-de-France, France.²
     Amaury II Seigneur de Montfort THE ANCESTORS OF SIMON DE MONTFORT EARL OF LEICESTER (I)

Amauri de Montfort attested charters of Robert I of France in 1022, 1028,and 4 Feb 1031. He is said to have been son of a William of Hainault,who is not otherwise known. He appears to have begun the building ofMontfort, described as a 'castrum' which was completed by his son Simon.He is said to have m. Bertrade. The date of his death is unknown. Heleft two sons, Simon, his successor, and Mainer; and probably a daughterEve who m. William Crispin. [Complete Peerage VII:Appendix D:708]

Note: Leo van de Plas, citing 'Les seize quartiers des Reines etImperatrices Francaises', 1977, Jacques Saillot, takes the ancestry twomore generations back at Montfort (not Hainault).

     Bertrade (Berteis) de Gometz was born circa 1010 at Gometz, Yvelines, Ile-de-France, France. She was the daughter of Guillaume de Gometz , de Bures. Bertrade (Berteis) de Gometz married Amaury II Seigneur de Montfort, son of Guillaume Comte de Montfort and Miss de Nogent, in 1028 at Ile-de-France, France.¹ Bertrade (Berteis) de Gometz died after 1053.³

     Guillaume Comte de Montfort was born circa 960 at Evreux, Eure, Normandy, France.¹ He died in 1018 at Montfort-l'Amaury, Yvelines, Ile-de-France, France.¹
     He The first Montfort of Ile de France, invested by Hugh Capet.

     Guy I Seigneur de Montlhery , & Chevreuse was buried at Abbaye de Longpont, Laon, Aisne, Picardy, France. He was born in 1009 at Montlhery, Essonne, Ile-de-France, France.^4,3 He was the son of Milon de Monteleherico , Seigneur de la Ferte and Miss de Montlhery. Guy I Seigneur de Montlhery , & Chevreuse died in 1095 at Chevreuse, Yvelines, Ile-de-France, France.^1,3
     He The following information was provided in a post-em by Curt Hofemann,curt_hofemann AT yahoo.com:

Seigneur de Montlhery & de Bray [Ref: McBride, Moriarty p63, Watne p276]
Seigneur de Monthlery [Ref: ES III:659]

seigneur of Montlhéry & castellan of Rochefort-en-Yvelines [Ref: PeterStewart 24 Apr 2001 message toGen-Medieval]

Seigneur de Chevreuse, Lord of Chateaufort [Ref: McBride] note: is not'seigneur de' & 'lord of' the same thing?... Curt

Count of Corbeil [Ref: Weis AR7 103a:24]
founded the abbey of Lamport* [Ref: Moriarty p63]

b. ca 1009 [Ref: McBride]

Jim, info conflicting yours:
parents: Milon I Seigneur de la Ferte & dau of Thibaud Seigneur deMontlhery & Chevrouse (sic) [Ref: Moriarty p265] Milan & dau Thibard[Ref: Moriarty p63]

d. 1095 [Ref: ES III:624, Moriarty p63 & 265], as a monk at Lampoint*[Ref: Peter Stewart 24 Apr 2001message to Gen-Medieval] as a monk at Lamport* [Ref: Moriarty p63]

*Research note: Lampoint or Lamport... Curt

Regards,
Curt.

     Hodierne de Gometz , Dame de la Ferte was born in 1014 at Bures, Yvelines, Ile-de-France, France. She was the daughter of Guillaume de Gometz , de Bures. Hodierne de Gometz , Dame de la Ferte died after 1 December 1074 at La Ferte-Alais, Essonne, Ile-de-France, France.³
     She The following information was provided by Curt Hofemann, curt_hofemann ATyahoo.com:

aka: Hodierna de la Ferte/Fort/Forte-Alais

Dame de Gometz et de la Forte-Alais [Ref: ES III:659]
sister of William de la Ferte, alias Seigneur de Gometz, Seneschal ofFrance [Ref: Moriarty p63]
dame of Bures [Ref: Peter Stewart 24Apr 2001 message to Gen-Medieval]

d. Dec 1 after 1074 [Ref: Moriarty p63] Dec 7 after 1074 [Ref: Moriartyp265] occ (living) 1074 [Ref: ES III:624]

Regards,
Curt.

     Milon de Monteleherico , Seigneur de la Ferte was born circa 984 at La Ferte-Alais, Essonne, Ile-de-France, France. He died after 1057.¹

     Ansfred II Onfror le Goz was born circa 963 at Normandy, France. He married an unknown person in 988.
     He HUGH D'AVRANCHES, EARL OF CHESTER
The Conqueror and His Companions
by J.R. Planché, Somerset Herald. London: Tinsley Brothers, 1874.

The third son of Gerlotte was Ansfrid the Dane, the first Vicomte of theHiemois, and father of Ansfrid the second, surnamed Goz, above mentioned,whose son Turstain (Thurstan, or Toustain) Goz was the great favourite ofRobert Duke of Normandy, the father of the Conqueror, and accompanied himto the Holy Land, and was entrusted to bring back the relics the Duke hadobtained from the Patriarch of Jerusalem to present to the Abbey ofCerisi, which he had founded. Revolting against the young Duke William in1041 (Vide vol. i, p. 21), Turstain was exiled, and his lands confiscatedand given by the Duke to his mother, Herleve, wife of Herluin deConteville.

     Gilbert FitzRichard de Clare , & Tonbridge, Sir was buried at Clare Priory, Suffolk, England. He married Adeliza (Adelaide) de Clermont, daughter of Hugh de Creil Comte de Clermont and Margaret de Roucy.⁴ Gilbert FitzRichard de Clare , & Tonbridge, Sir was born circa 1066 at Clare, Risbridge, Suffolk, England.^5,4 He was the son of Richard FitzGilbert de Clare , & Tonbridge, Sir and Rohese Giffard. Gilbert FitzRichard de Clare , & Tonbridge, Sir died between 1114 and 1117 at Cardigan, Cardiganshire, Wales.^5,2,4
     He Gilbert, feudal Lord of Clare, Suffolk and Cardigan, whose father Richardwas son of the Count of Brionne, of an illegitimate line of the Dukes ofNormandy). [Burke's Peerage]

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HOLDERS OF THE HONOUR OF CLARE (II) 1090 ?

GILBERT FITZRICHARD, styled also DE CLARE and DE TONBRIDGE, Lord ofClare, &c., son who succeeded to the English possessions of his father at an unknown age . He was born before 1066, and was founder of the Priory at Clare,1090. By Henry I he was granted, 1107-1111, the Lordship of Cardigan.

He married Adeliz, daughter of Hugh, COUNT OF CLERMONT in Beauvaisis, byMarguerite, daughter of Hilduin, COUNT OF MONTDIDIER AND Roucy. He died1114 or 1117. His widow married, 2ndly, (?Bouchard) DE MONTMORENCY.[Complete Peerage III:242-3, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

Built the first castles at Cardigan and Aberystwyth in Wales.

at an unknown age His brother Roger FitzRichard [living 1130] inherited the lands inNormandy. This Roger, who possibly was the oldest son, died s.p.

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Gilbert de Tonebruge, who resided at Tonebruge and inherited all hisfather's lands in England, joined in the rebellion of Robert de Mowbray,Earl of Northumberland, but observing the king (William Rufus) upon thepoint of falling into an ambuscade, he relented, sought pardon, and savedhis royal master. We find him subsequently, however, again in rebellionin the same reign and fortifying and losing his castle at Tunbridge. Hem. in 1113, Adeliza, dau. of the Earl of Cleremont, and had issue,Richard, his successor, Gilbert, Walter, Hervey, and Baldwin. Gilbert deTonebruge, who was a munificent benefactor to the church, was s. by hiseldest son, Richard de Clare. [Sir Bernard Burke, Dormant and ExtinctPeerages, Burke's Peerage, London, 1883, p. 119, Clare, Lords of Clare,Earls of Hertford, Earls of Gloucester]


Gilbert m. Adeliza, dau, of the Earl of Claremont, and was father ofRichard de Clare, Earl of Hertford, and Gilbert de Clare, created Earl ofPembroke. [Sir Bernard Burke, Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited and ExtinctPeerages, Burke's Peerage, Ltd., London, England, 1883, p. 230, Giffard,Earls of Buckingham]

     Adeliza (Adelaide) de Clermont married Gilbert FitzRichard de Clare , & Tonbridge, Sir, son of Richard FitzGilbert de Clare , & Tonbridge, Sir and Rohese Giffard.⁴ Adeliza (Adelaide) de Clermont was born circa 1072 at Clermont-en-Beauvais, Oise, Picardy, France. She was the daughter of Hugh de Creil Comte de Clermont and Margaret de Roucy. Adeliza (Adelaide) de Clermont married an unknown person after 1124.^3,4
     She There seems to be a serious error in line 246b-24 of Ancestral Roots,which has this Adeliza marrying Robert de Condet d. 1141, after hermarriage to Gilbert Fitz Richard. This does not agree with any otherlines, which have Robert de Condet's wife as Adeliza dau. of Ranulph leMeschin, Earl of Chester. The error in generation 24 is shown in thenext generation of this line (246b-25) which has Adeliza dau. of Ranulphmarrying first Richard Fitz Gilbert and then Robert de Condet. I believethis (generation 25) is correct. See notes under Adeliz le Meschin, wifeof Richard FitzGilbert de Clare.

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He [Gilbert FitzRichard de Clare] married Adeliz, daughter of Hugh, COUNTOF CLERMONT in Beauvaisis, by Marguerite, daughter of Hilduin, COUNT OFMONTDIDIER AND Roucy. He died 1114 or 1117. His widow married, 2ndly,(?Bouchard) DE MONTMORENCY. [Complete Peerage III:242-3, (transcribed byDave Utzinger)]

     Robert II de Beaumont , 2nd Earl of Leicester was buried at St Mary de Pre Priory, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. He was born in 1104 at Pont Audemer, Eure, Normandy, France.^2,3 He was the son of Robert I de Beaumont , 1st Earl of Leicester and Isabel (Elizabeth) de Vermandois. Robert II de Beaumont , 2nd Earl of Leicester married Amice de Montfort, daughter of Ralph Seigneur de Gael de Montford and Emma (Avice) de Vermandois, after November 1120.^2,3 Robert II de Beaumont , 2nd Earl of Leicester died on 5 April 1168 at Leicester Castle, Leicestershire, England.^2,3
     He On Leicester, Earldom of [Burke's Peerage, p. 1671]:

Robert de Beaumont, a companion in arms of William I (The Conqueror) atHastings was granted after the Conquest much land in the Midlands ofEngland, but most of it was in Warwickshire rather than Leicestershire.Indeed his younger brother became Earl of Warwick. Robert also heldterritory in Normandy and is usually referred to as Count of Meulan. Hewas a leading political figure in the reigns of William II and Henry Iand on the death of one Ives de Grandmesnil in the First Crusade, thefunds for campaigning in which Ives had raised from Robert on thesecurity of his estates, [Robert] came into full possession of them,including a sizeable part of Leicester. The rest of the town was grantedhim by Henry I and it is possible that he became Earl of Leicester. Hisson, another Robert, certainly called himself Earl of Leicester.

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EARLDOM OF LEICESTER (II) 1118

ROBERT (a), EARL OF LEICESTER, younger son, being twin with Waleran, whosucceeded his father as Count of Meulan, was born 1104, and was commonlycalled Le Bossu or Le Goczen. He
styles himself Earl of Leicester in the confirmation of his charter onbehalf of Bec and St. Nicaise-de-Meulan in 1119. He and his brotherWaleran were brought up at the court of Henry I with great care onaccount of the King's gratitude to their father. They accompanied Henrywhen he interviewed Pope Calixtus at Gisors, November 1119 where theyastonished the Cardinals by their learning. On 8 September 1131 Robertwas one of the five Earls who witnessed Henry's charter to Salisbury atthe Northampton Council, and both the brothers were present at thedeathbed of Henry L In the anarchy which followed Stephen's accession heengaged in private warfare with his hereditary enemy, Roger de Tosny,whom he captured with the assistance of his brother Waleran. In 1137 thetwins returned to England with Stephen. Meanwhile, during Robert'sabsence in England, his possessions in Normandy were overrun until hecame to terms with Roger de Tosny. In June 1139 the two brothers took aleading part in the seizing of the Bishops o! Salisbury and Lincoln atOxford. At about this time he received from Stephen a grant to him asEarl of Leicester and to his heirs of the town and castle of Hereford 'ettotum comitatum de Herefordisc.,' excepting the lands of the Bishop,those of the Abbot of Reading and of other churches and abbeys holding inchief of the King, and excepting also the fees of Hugh de Mortemer,Osbert son of Hugh, and others, 'cum aliis omnibus rebus et libertatibusquae ad omnia prefata pertinent cum quibus Gul. filius Osbern unquammelius vel liberius tenuit.' This grant was made at Newton (probably nearLeominster) at a time when Miles of Gloucester had already takenpossession of the county for the Empress, and therefore cannot have beeneffectual to bestow either the lands or the Earldom of Hereford, if suchwas Stephen's intention. After the defeat of Stephen, 2 Feb. 1141, Robertappears to have made a truce with the Angevin party in Normandy until heshould return from England, and devoted himself to his foundation of St.Mary de Pré at Leicester, which was accomplished in 1143. According tothe narrative of St. Mary's, he became a canon regular there circa 1153,and so remained until his death, but the story conflicts with his knownpublic career. In that year Henry, son of the Empress, anticipating hissuccession to the throne (which was agreed by the Treaty of Waningford inNovember 1153), gave Robert and his son Robert charters, dated atBristol, 'restoring' to them the lands then held by the elder, Robert,and granting them the Stewardship of England and of Normandy, whereby hedoubtless secured their support of his claims to the crown. Robert was atthe siege of Torigny in October 1154 with Henry II just before hisaccession, attended his Coronation in December 1154, and rapidly rose inthe new King's favour. He received a confirmation charter of the grantmade at Bristol and thus became Steward of England and of Nor:mandy. Hewas made Justiciar in the following year, and he acted as Viccroy part ofthe time with Richard de Luci during the King's absence from England fromDecember 1158, after Eleanor left the country until his rcturn 25 January1162/3. He was present at the Council of Clarendon, 13-28 January 1163/4,and was the first to attest the 'Constitutions,' to which he procured theassent of Thomas à Becket. He took part with the Crown in its strugglewith Becket, but sought to reconcile the King and the Archbishop at theCouncil of Northampton in October 1164. As Justiciar he pronouncedsentence on the Archbishop, who cut short his address by denying thejurisdiction of the court. In 1165 he again acted as Viceroy on theKing's departure. In the spring of 1166 he went to Normandy with theKing, but was in England again in October, and retained the Justiciarshipuntil his death two years later.

He married, after November 1120, Amice, daughter of Ralph, SEIGNEUR OFGAEL AND MONTFORT in Brittany, who was son of Ralph, EARL OF NORFOLK, byEmma, daughter of William FITZOSBERN, 1st Earl of Hereford. By thismarriage he acquired a large part of the FitzOsbern inheritance inNormandy and England. He died 5 April 1168, and was probably buried inSt. Mary de Pré. Amice survived him, and is said to have entered theconvent of Nuneaton. [Complete Peerage VII:527-30, XIV:429, (transcribedby Dave Utzinger)]

at an unknown age It has become the established usage to apply the name of Beaumont tothe Earls of Leicester of the first line. Though doubtless a convenientform of nomenclature, it lacks contemporary authority. Roger, Seigneur ofBeaumont-le-Roger, the contemporary of the Conqueror, is called Roger deBeaumont with good reason. Orderic speaks of his younger brother Robertas Robert de Beaumont, but in doing so is clearly transferring to him thestyle borne later by Roger, for Robert always appears in charters asRobertus flius Humphredi. Robert, son of Roger, was also styled deBeaumont until he became Count of Meulan, but his son Robert, 2nd Earl ofLeicester, is never so styled. In the next generation the question doesnot arise, for there were no younger sons. In the last generation ofthese Earls, William, the eldest brother (who d. vp), is in chartersalways William de Bréteuil, and Robert, before he succeeded as Earl,figures as Robert de Bréteuil in two charters, and is also so styled inthe Chron. de Mailros. There was no reason why this branch of the familyshould take its style from a place in which it had no interest. Hugh(said to have become Earl of Bedford), younger brother of Robert andWaleran, witnesses a charter circa 1123-38 as Hugone de Mellent. Withrespect to the elder branch, those who were not themselves Counts werecalled de Mellento, and this though the caput of their Norman honour wasBeaumont, and this endured as the name of two branches of the familyafter the loss of the comti of Meulan.

     Amice de Montfort was born circa 1108 at Breal-sous-Montfort, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France. She was the daughter of Ralph Seigneur de Gael de Montford and Emma (Avice) de Vermandois. Amice de Montfort married Robert II de Beaumont , 2nd Earl of Leicester, son of Robert I de Beaumont , 1st Earl of Leicester and Isabel (Elizabeth) de Vermandois, after November 1120.^1,2 Amice de Montfort died after 1168 at Convent of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England; (as a nun.)²
     She He [Robert Earl of Leicester] married, after November 1120, Amice,daughter of Ralph, SEIGNEUR OF GAEL AND MONTFORT in Brittany, who was sonof Ralph, EARL OF NORFOLK, by Emma, daughter of William FITZOSBERN, 1stEarl of Hereford. By this marriage he acquired a large part of theFitzOsbern inheritance in Normandy and England. He died 5 April 1168, andwas probably buried in St. Mary de Pré. Amice survived him, and is saidto have entered the convent of Nuneaton. [Complete Peerage VII:527-30,XIV:429, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

     Robert I de Beaumont , 1st Earl of Leicester was buried at Abbey of Preaux, Normandy, France. He was born circa 1046 at Beaumont-le-Roger, Eure, Normandy, France.⁴ He was the son of Roger de Beaumont , Seigneur de Pont-Audemer and Adeline de Meulan. Robert I de Beaumont , 1st Earl of Leicester married Isabel (Elizabeth) de Vermandois, daughter of Hugh de Crepi Magnus , Duke of Burgundy and Adelaide de Vermandois, in 1096.^2,4 Robert I de Beaumont , 1st Earl of Leicester died on 5 June 1118 at Meulan, Yvelines, Ile-de-France, France.^2,4
     He Robert de Beaumont; allegedly 1st Earl of Leicester of the c1102creation. [Burke's Peerage]

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On Leicester, Earldom of [Burke's Peerage, p. 1671]:

Robert de Beaumont, a companion in arms of William I (The Conqueror) atHastings was granted after the Conquest much land in the Midlands ofEngland, but most of it was in Warwickshire rather than Leicestershire.Indeed his younger brother became Earl of Warwick. Robert also heldterritory in Normandy and is usually referred to as Count of Meulan. Hewas a leading political figure in the reigns of William II and Henry Iand on the death of one Ives de Grandmesnil in the First Crusade, thefunds for campaigning in which Ives had raised from Robert on thesecurity of his estates, [Robert] came into full possession of them,including a sizeable part of Leicester. The rest of the town was grantedhim by Henry I and it is possible that he became Earl of Leicester.

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EARLDOM OF LEICESTER (I) 1107 ?

ROBERT DE BEAUMONT, SEIGNEUR OF BEAUMONT, PONT-AUDEMER, BRIONNE ANDVATTEVILLE in Normandy, and from 1081 COUNT OF MEULAN in the FrenchVexin, son and heir, born circa 1046. When very young he accompanied DukeWilliam to England and distinguished himself at the battle of Hastings,and received large grants of lands in co. Warwick, with smaller holdingsin cos. Leicester, Northants, and Wilts. On 14 July 080, as Robert deBellomonte, he witnessed the foundation charter of Lessay, and next yearhe inherited from his mother's family the comté of Meulan. Thereafter heis continuously styled Count (Comes) of Meulan. After the death of theConqueror he adhered to William Rufus, and was high in favour at hiscourt. He quarrelled with Robert of Normandy about the castellanship ofBrionne, in consequence of the exchange of Brionne for Ivry made by hisfather. He was imprisoned, but was released at the intercession of hisfather Roger, who eventually succeeded in obtaining Brionne in fee. Hesucceeded to the greater part of his father's lands in Normandy,including Beaumont, Pont-Audemer, Vatteville and Brionne. This paternalinheritance, added to his French comté and his great possessions in cos.Warwick and Leicester, made him one of the most powerful vassals of theCrown. He became one of the chief lay ministers of William Rufus, withwhom he sided against Robert Courtheuse in 1098, and when William invadedthe French Vexin in 1097 he received his troops in his fortresses of thecomté of Meulan. After the death of William Rufus he became one of thechief advisers of Henry I. On the death of Ives de Grandmesnil onCrusade, Robert retained his estates, which Ives had mortgaged to himcirca 1102. Thereby he acquired one-quarter of the town of Leicester, thewhole of which was later granted to him by the King. Robert thus addedlargely to his already vast possessions. In 1104 he was one of the Normanbarons who adhered to Henry on his arrival in Normandy. He was present inthe King's army at Tenchebrai, 28 September 1106. In 1110 he was besiegedat Meulan by Louis VI, who took the castle by storm, but in the followingyear he retaliated by a raid on Paris, which he plundered. Afterobtaining the whole town of Leicester he is said to have become EARL OFLEICESTER, but, being already Count of Meulan, was never so styled. Thereis no contemporary record that he had the third penny of the pleas of thecounty, but he doubtless acquired, with the Grandmesnil fief, the thirdpenny of the issues of the Mint at Leicester.

He married, in 1096, Isabel, called also Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh DECREPl, called Hug 'le Grand,' COUNT OF VERMANDOIS. He died 5 June 1118,and was buried with his ancestors in the chapter house of Préaux (c). Hiswidow married, very shortly after his death, William (DE WARINNE), EARLOF SURREY. [Complete Peerage VII:523-6, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

(c) Robert had three sons and five daughters. The sons were Waleran andRobert, twins born in 1104, and Hugh. Waleran, the eldest, succeeded tothe Norman and French fiefs, and the English lands held by hisgrandfather, Roger de Beaumont in 1086. Robert succeeded his father asEarl of Leicester and Hugh is said to have been created Earl of Bedford.The names of only four of the daughter appear to be known--Adeline,Aubreye, Maud and Isabel or Elizabeth. Adeline m. Hugh IV Seigneur ofMontfort-sur-Risle. Aubreye m. Hugh II Seigneur ofChateauneuf-en-Thimerais. Maud m. William Louvel, Seigneur of Ivri andBreval. Isabel, also called Elizabeth, was mistress of Henry I, and m.Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Pembroke.

     Henry II Count of Louvain was born circa 1021 at Louvain, Brabant, Lorraine, France.¹ He was the son of Lambert II 'Baudry' Count of Louvain and Oda of Lorraine. Henry II Count of Louvain died before 1079.¹

     Adelaide (Adela) of Orlamunda was born circa 1031 at Orlamunde, Thuringia, Germany. She was the daughter of Eberhard Count of Beteau. Adelaide (Adela) of Orlamunda died after 1086.¹

     Lambert II 'Baudry' Count of Louvain was buried at Nivelles, Belgium. He was born circa 991 at Louvain, Brabant, Belgium.¹ He was the son of Lambert I 'The Bearded' Count of Louvain and Gerberga of Lorraine. Lambert II 'Baudry' Count of Louvain died after 21 September 1062.¹

     Oda of Lorraine was born circa 995 at Lorraine, France. She was the daughter of Gozelon I Duke of Lower Lorraine , Count Verdun and Urracca Princess of Italy. Oda of Lorraine died in 1044.

     William Seigneur d' Aubigny was born circa 1010 at St. Martin d'Aubigny, Manche, Normandy, France.⁴ He was the son of Niel (Nigel) III Vicomte de St. Sauveur and Adela d' Eu. William Seigneur d' Aubigny married Sister of Grimald de Plessis, daughter of Grimolt (Grimould) de Plessis, before 1048.¹ William Seigneur d' Aubigny died after 1066.³
     He William d'Aubigny, Seigneur of Aubigny (subsequently Saint-Martind'Aubigny), Normandy; married by 1048 sister of Grimald de Plessis.[Burke's Peerage]

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Aubigny, Alibini, etc., Earls of Arundel

Saint-Martin d'Aubigny: Manche, arr. Coutances, cant. Periers.

The early history of the family will be found in The Complete Peerage,surname Mowbray, new ed., vol. ix, pp. 366-7. The details of theirbenefactions to the abbey of Lessay as confirmed by a charter of HenryII, 1185-1188, identify St-Martin d'Aubigny with the Aubigny which wasthe caput of their Norman honour; thus the 'ecclesiam de Folgeriis' isFeugeres 2 1/2 kil. SE of Aubigny, the 'feria Sancti Christofori'mentioned in conjunction with the 'forum Albinneii' isSt-Christophe-d'Aubigny, a parish now united to that of St-Martin, and'Marchesis' is Marchesieux, 5 kil. NE of Aubigny. There is no trace of afeudal castle at Aubigny itself, but Gerville found nearby at LeMesnil-Vigot the remains of a considerable castle with a well-definedmotte, then known as 'le chateau de St-Clair'. [Origins of SomeAnglo-Norman Families]

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The following info was provided in a post-em by Curt Hofemann,curt_hofemann AT yahoo.com:

A few more dribs & brabs:

Seigneur of Aubigny (Albiniacum) [Ref: CP IX:366, Holloway p20]

(in conjunction with son Roger) benefactor of the Abbey of Lessay [Ref:CP IX:366]

William d'Aubigny, first of the name, married the sister of Grimoult[Ref: McBride citing the Harleian Society, Vol 80, 'Knights of Edward I'Vol 1 (A to E), with additions from Crispin and Macary, p6-7]

William d'Aubigny, of St. Martin d'Aubigny, who married the sister ofGrimauld de Plessis, (some reconstructions make him older brotherinstead) [Ref: TAF 21 May 2002] Note: the village of Saint Martind'Aubigny is 16 km. west of St-Lo and 15 km. north of Coutances, inNormandy. The other (unrelated) Aubigny/Albini line is from St. AubinAubigné, a different town... Curt

married bef 1048: [Ref: Holloway p20], names: William D'AUBIGNEY & ___PLESSIS [Ref: CP IX:366, Holloway p20]

Research note: As to the link to the Saint Sauvieur line, there isnothing to it - just a guess based on the names of William and Nigeloccuring in both families. [Ref: TAF 21 May 2002] Would love to see anexpansion/basis of this... Curt

Note: Holloway = _The Genealogy of Mary Wentworth, Who Became the Wife ofWilliam Brewster_ by Naomi D. Holloway, LDS Film#1738313.

Regards,
Curt.

     Sister of Grimald de Plessis was born circa 1030 at Plessis, Calvados, Normandy, France. She was the daughter of Grimolt (Grimould) de Plessis. Sister of Grimald de Plessis married William Seigneur d' Aubigny, son of Niel (Nigel) III Vicomte de St. Sauveur and Adela d' Eu, before 1048.¹

     Simon I Seigneur de Montfort was buried at Epernon, Eure-et-Loire, Beauce/Centre, France. He was born circa 1030 at Montfort-l'Amaury, Yvelines, Ile-de-France, France.⁴ He was the son of Amaury II Seigneur de Montfort and Bertrade (Berteis) de Gometz. Simon I Seigneur de Montfort married Isabella de Broyes , Dame de Nogent, daughter of Hugh Bardoul Seigneur de Broyes and Elizabeth de Sours, circa 1055.^6,5 Simon I Seigneur de Montfort married an unknown person circa 1064.^4,5,7 He died circa 1087.^2,5
     He THE ANCESTORS OF SIMON DE MONTFORT EARL OF LEICESTER (II)

Simon de Montfort, son and heir. He is styled son of Amauri by Orderic.In 1058 he attested a charter of Henry I to St. Germain-des-Pres. About1063 he took a leading part in persuading Duke William to recall Ralph deTosny and Hugh de Grandmesnil from exile. On 13 Apr 1066 he was atFecamp with William and his court, and attested an Act for the Abbey ofCoulumbs. In the same year, at Meulan, Simon and his wife (unnamed)confirmed a gift by Richard FitzHerluin of certain lands in 'villa sanctiHilari' to the same abbey, the said lands being part of the inheritanceof Simon's wife. In 1067 Simon witnessed, in Paris, a charter of PhilipI to St. Martin-des-Champs, and in 1072, with his son Amauri, attestedanother charter of the same king, confirming the gift to St. Magloire by'quidam miles de castro qui Montefortis vocatur Symon nomine' of thechurches of St. Peter and St. Laurence situate 'in eodem castro'.

Simon married three times. His 1st wife is said to have been Isabel,daughter of Hugh Bardoul, Seigneur of Brozes, and dame de Nogent; thename of the 2nd wife is unknown, and there is no proved issue of the 2ndmarriage. By his 1st wife he had a son Amauri, who succeeded him, and adaughter Isabel or Elizabeth, who m. Ralph de Tosny. He m. 3rdly, Agnes,sister and in her issue heiress of William, 3rd Count of Evreux inNormandy, being also stepsister to Ralph de Tosny, and daughter ofRichard, 2nd Count of Evreux. By her he appears to have had Richard andSimon, who, in turn succeeded their half-brother Amauri, and William (e);and he certainly had by her a son Amauri, who succeeded the last-namedSimon, and a daughter Bertrade (f). Simon d. in or shortly after 1087,and was buried at Epernon. [Complete Peerage VII:Appendix D:710-1]

(e) He [William] was a clerk, and attested in 1093 as William, son ofSimon de Montfort.

(f) She [Bertrade] m. as his 4th wife, Fulk IV, Count of Anjou. Shedeserted him for Philip I of France.

     Gozelon I Duke of Lower Lorraine , Count Verdun was born circa 967 at Verdun, Meuse, Lorraine, France. He was the son of Godfrey de Verdun , Marquis Antwerp and Mathilde (Maud) Billung , of Saxony. Gozelon I Duke of Lower Lorraine , Count Verdun died on 19 April 1044.^1,2

     Urracca Princess of Italy was born circa 967 at Italy.

     Lambert I 'The Bearded' Count of Louvain was born circa 950 at Louvain, Brabant, Belgium.¹ He married Gerberga of Lorraine, daughter of Adelaide (Adelheid) de Verdun, between 985 and 990.¹ Lambert I 'The Bearded' Count of Louvain died on 12 September 1015; Battle of Florennes.^1,2
     He Lambert, Count of Louvain, called 'The Bearded'; was killed at the Battleof Florennes defending his nephew's County of Hainault against the newlycreated Duke Godfrey of Brabant. [Burke's Peerage]